Howard Community College

10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD

History
Howard Community College, located in Columbia, Maryland, was founded in 1966 and is the fourteenth of Maryland's sixteen community colleges, two year institutions that serve the local community and offer a variety of resources and programs for educational and career advancement. HCC serves the residents of Howard County and nearby outlying areas. The school's first classes were offered in 1970, to just over 600 students, a number today that exceeds over 28,000 a year. The school motto is “You can get there from here” and prides itself as a starting point for students' postsecondary educations and careers. The mission of the school is to provide pathways for students to achieve their goals. HCC continues to add structures and update facilities as part of its ongoing mission to provide the best education possible, to that end the school is perpetually examining its program offerings, updating them as necessary and adding new programs as needed.

Academics
HCC offers associate's degrees and vocational certificates as well as programs designed to assist students in transferring to four year institutions. HCC serves over 28,000 students annually (some 10,000 of which pursued degree or career programs) and provides a wide variety of programs and courses for every educational need. Career and technical programs provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Such students will be able to complete duties and tasks professionally thanks to a combination of classroom and practical educations. Academic programs allow students to complete the first two years of a four year education at low cost, and upon completion transfer to a four year institution where they may complete a bachelor's degree.

Individuals may also take non-credit courses which allows the exploration of personal interests and adult education courses which invites individuals who may not have completed their education to return to school and do so.

Admissions and Financial Aid
Applying to HCC requires students to fill out the standard application form and submit it to the Office of Admissions and Advising along with $25.00 dollars. application and fee and a prospective student must simply fill out the one that is appropriate for him or her. As an open enrollment school, any students who meets the minimum standards for entry will be accepted and allowed to register for classes. Some programs, such as nursing, may require a different

Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants, and work study programs. Students in need of aid must complete the various forms and supply documentation as noted within those materials to be considered for aid. The most important of these applications is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which will be used to determine eligibility and awards. Scholarships may also be available, often requiring a separate application and awarded for reasons unique to the scholarship. HCC also provides an online financial aid resource through their website outlining the various scholarships, grants and loans available to Maryland students and how to apply for them.

Estimated Costs & Financial Aid

The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $7,200. In order to calculate a more accurate and detailed cost of attendance check out their cost calculator here. There is also a $25 application fee for those applying to a program. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.

Tuition & Fees Information

Tuition estimates per year:

State Residents: $3,600-$4,300

Out-of-State: $7,000-$8,424

Charges per unit:

In-State: $130-$160 per unit

Out-of-State: $260-$310 per unit

Financial Aid Details

The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.

Percent of Students

Average Amount

Any Financial Aid

58%

-

Receiving Grants & Scholarships

55%

$4,561

Receiving Student Loans

11%

$4,696

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Admissions, Academics, & Student Services

Student Services

To help students and alumni, Howard Community College may offer services to students like those listed below:

Distance learning

Classes offered on nights and weekends

Remedial instructional courses

Career path counseling

Work study style employment

Day care

Graduation & Transfer Rates

Students who attend a community college will be able to choose from a variety of programs that will lead to an associate's degree or transfer to a four year institution. The following list shows graduation and transfer-out rates for Howard Community College compared to community colleges in Maryland, which can be useful for determining which community college to attend.

Howard Community College

Howard County

Maryland

Graduation Rate

15.0%

-

15.6%

Transfer-out Rate

16.4%

-

21.1%

Specialized Programs & Accreditations

Music Program

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation (since 2009)

Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program

Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 1974)

Programs Offered

The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by Howard Community College by clicking the request information to the right.